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 Mojave Desert Scenic Drive
N 35° 15.601 W 116° 04.056
11S E 584814 N 3902277
59 miles through California's Mojave Desert.
Waymark Code: WM4HMZ
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2008
Views: 58
Click on any picture for larger images.
Click the blue links for more information and other nearby waymarks.
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Here is another scenic ride from the reference book Scenic Driving California.
 
Here is how the book describes the ride:
This fifty-nine-mile-long scenic drive, following two desert back roads, traverses a spectacular slice of the 1.5-million-acre East Mojave National Scenic Area past granite mountains, sand dunes, broad basins, and Joshua tree forests.
This scenic drive, following Kelbaker Road, Kelso-Cima Road, and Cima Road, crosses fifty-nine miles of austere desert landscapes in the 1.5-million-acre East Mojave National Scenic Area. This sprawling land is studded with sharp mountain ranges that tower above broad alluvium-filled valleys, a timeless place of distant horizons. At first glance, the desert there appears lifeless and inhospitable. But closer inspection reveals details of life—tree-lined springs that echo with bird songs; the showy colors of spring wildflowers draped across dry arroyos; and the sinuous track of a nocturnal sidewinder etched on a sand dune. |
The road connects the towns of Baker north of the Mojave and Amboy at the southern
edge of the desert. Both places have interesting waymarks to offer:
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For most of the time, the landscape is really just that: Plain desert.
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For miles and miles, the road is just absolutely straight... |
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...and since you are in the desert, don't be surprised
if your car looks like this at the end of the day.
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Probably the most prominent feature in the entire Mojave desert is Kelso Dunes, the largest sand field in the Mojave Desert. The dune field covers 45 square miles and includes migrating dunes, vegetation-stabilized dunes, sand sheets, and sand ramps.
The tallest dunes rise up to 650 feet above the surrounding terrain.
The picture above is a panorama, put together from three pictures.
Click on the thumbnails below for the individual pictures.
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Desert Flowers
April/May is the best time to visit this place, because
for a short time, the entire desert is buzzing with life!
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California's Biggest Sand Box
We sure had fun in the sand!
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There are no services in the Mojave. In addition to a sufficient amount of water, make sure you've got enough gas. |
And even after you made it across the desert, you might still be in for a tough surprise!
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 so, you might be better off using alternative means of transportation!
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Program: Other
Website: [Web Link]
Official Name: Mojave Desert Scenic Drive
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Visit Instructions:
Please give a brief description of your visit. Maybe why you were there, what you found interesting, or something along those lines. Photos are also encouraged. Although the only requirement to log a visit to a waymark in this category is to physically visit the location, the photos and extra information you can provide about the area is very helpful to future visitors.
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